title: Inhibition of the bacteriolytic effect of beta-lactam-antibiotics on Staphylococcus aureus by the polyanionic drugs suramin and Evans Blue.
abstract: The anionic polyelectrolytes suramin and Evans Blue inhibited different autolytic systems involved in wall growth and wall turnover of growing staphylococci and in wall autolysis of resting bacteria. Moreover, both substances lowered the beta-lactam-induced pre-lytic release of cytoplasmic constituents from staphylococci, and inhibited the beta-lactam-induced bacteriolysis as well as the loss of viability. The protective effects of these sulfonated drugs against bacteriolysis were also monitored by electron microscopy. Some medical implications of our results are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Robert Koch-Institut des Bundesgesundheitsamtes, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wecke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Franz
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giesbrecht
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005070:Evans Blue / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013498:Suramin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D047090:beta-Lactams
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001391:Azo Compounds; D047090:beta-Lactams; D005070:Evans Blue; D013498:Suramin